uShaka Marine World receives energy efficiency assets from eThekwini Municipality
Durban’s uShaka Marine World will receive a donation of renewable and energy efficiency assets from the eThekwini Climate Change Division.
A report from the Economic Development and Planning Committee (ECOD) was presented to the eThekwini Executive Committee (Exco) meeting on Tuesday, outlining the donation plan.
The report stated that uShaka Marine World, as a strategic municipal entity and a high-energy use facility, has been a beneficiary of several of these interventions.
The projects implemented included the installation of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency technologies, which are fully installed, operational, and delivering measurable energy and environmental benefits.
“While these assets have been operationally managed and maintained by uShaka Marine World since installation, the formal assets have not been fully concluded at the time of project closeout. As a result, the assets remain reflected on the implementing department’s asset register,” the report clarified.
In 2017, the municipality’s energy office implemented the Energy Office Solar (EOS) pilot project, which involved the installation of approximately 300 Kilowatt-peak (kWp) of grid-tied photovoltaic (PV) systems across five municipal facilities, namely the Durban metro police headquarters, eThekwini water and sanitation headquarters, uShaka Marine World, Moses Mabhida Stadium, and the People’s Park cafe.
According to the report, the pilot project was designed to test and refine the municipality’s internal processes related to grid connection approvals, minor building works applications, and operational integration of solar PV installations with a capacity of approximately 111 kWp.
“The PV system at uShaka remains fully operational and continues to perform as designed, contributing to reduced grid electricity consumption and supporting the entity’s clean energy and cost-saving objectives,” the report outlined.
Since commissioning, uShaka Marine World has assumed full responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the system, utilising its own technical and financial resources.
The municipality stated that the proposed donation of this asset formalises the existing operational arrangements and ensures that asset ownership is aligned with responsibility for maintenance and performance.
The municipality receives an annual allocation of funding through the Division of Revenue Act (DoRA), currently averaging R7 million per annum, earmarked for Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (EEDSM) interventions within municipal-owned facilities.
These funds, stated the report, are primarily utilised for lighting retrofits, with additional investments made in technologies such as variable speed drivers, heating systems upgrades, and other efficiency improvements.
Sharmaine Sewshanker, DA councillor and member of the ECOD, said the assets were already with Ushaka Marine World but needed to be formalised.
She explained that these energy-efficient assets have already been part of uShaka’s interventions to reduce energy consumption, improve system reliability, and lower operational costs.
“More especially during the peak holiday season, when uShaka has extended operational hours and attracts a high volume of patrons. This donation to one of our key tourist attractions will benefit the facility in continuing its operations and long-term sustainability,” she said.
